Patrick Mahomes II up to No. 2 QB after strong preseason debut

Tyler Bray started the preseason as Kansas City's backup quarterback, but according to Adam Teicher of ESPN.com Mahomes has now been promoted to No. 2 on the depth chart.

Rookie quarterback Patrick Mahomes II impressed the Kansas City Chiefs enough in Friday night's preseason opener that they gave him a promotion of sorts as they returned to the training camp practice field.

Mahomes followed Smith in the team's quarterback rotation at practice Sunday. Everyone saw how the fans got when he finally got into the preseason game. The rookie connected with wide receiver Demarcus Robinson on a 41-yard bomb on his first play from scrimmage, only to see the play wiped away due to a penalty by left tackle Isaiah Battle.

Bray completed 5-of-8 passes for 63 yards and an interception in the contest.

Patrick Mahomes has moved up on the Chiefs' depth chart.

"It's not because of Tyler's (Bray) performance in the game. I think he actually played very well and Patrick did a nice job too".

The Chiefs sit in an unusual spot without an experienced backup quarterback. He believes the rookie's performance justifies a larger workload.

"It's being able to get in and function in the huddle, still seeing the defenses and the reads, knowing the calls that he needs to make to get [out] of trouble in both the run and pass games", Reid said.

Tight end Travis Kelce said he sees the potential in Mahomes. It gives [Mahomes] an opportunity to step up and work with that second group and see what he can do there. "He's doing just fine and I'm sure he's going to be just as good as everyone expects him to be".

The 21-year-old Mahomes spent three years at Texas Tech, becoming a full-time starter in his second season. The veteran coach carries a reputation for a thick playbook with lengthy play calls.

Reid, however, said he wasn't sure if Mahomes will log any first-string reps in preseason action. "We've got a few words we've got on these routes and he handles that pretty well. We saw that even when we brought him in for the pre-draft test".

While the depth chart churns on the lower rungs of the ladder, a starting quarterback controversy in Kansas City remains far beyond the horizon. "While I am on quarterbacks, Alex (Smith) like I mentioned yesterday, did a nice job".